Daily Republican., 1887-07-13
THE HOLE lN snE DKUM.HEAD

Uncle Solomon scolding?
During all his visit to Uncle Solo
mon, he had not heard those sharp, ill
natured tones before.
81 don't see why they single me
out!' exclaimed Uncle Solomon.
"They ought to be ashamed OF them
selves.'
"It's a good cause" meekly remark
ed Aunt Mary, who was rolling out
pie-crust on the table at the window in
the kitchen.
Billy ventured to plant one eye at
the crack in the door opening from the
sitting room into the kitchen.
"Oh, is that it?" wondered Billy,
catching a glimpse of paper in Uncle
Solomon's hsnds. Billy was little
past G. He was very proud of the fact
that he was master of very easy read
ing. He had spelled out enough of
the document to know that IL was
about temperance. II was headed
with an invitation in big letters:
snow is the time! Sign now"
This appeal had been scattered in
all the homes of Grayton by the tenn
perance people, who wished to awaken
Temperance sentiment, and consisted
of an appeal to keep sober and a
pledge not to drink! 1t had been
very successful In awaking Unce Sol
omon. After receiving it, he had
been anything but man asleep. Billy
was surprised. He had had good
Temperance training, and did not
Uncle Solomon think that way?"
"Oh, dearl" he heard Aunt Mary
groan when she was alone. Solomon
knows he has need of that pledge. 1t
would make man of him. And
there! if he isn't agoin' to beat the big
drum in the procession, and he will
get himself so excited, he will pound
/ il in sure, as he did once beforel"
"What is thatY" queried Billy.
He had seen Uncle Solomon's big
bass drum out in the barn chamber
Wha. delightful pastime 1t was tor
Billy, the making of "thunderl"
He would stand there long time,
humping the old drum head, imagin
| ing on cloudy days, that he had made
the real article, such as grumbled and
tumbled in the sky; and once Billy
thought 1t tumbled out of the sky
when a neighbor's barn was lightning
lstruck.
He had made all his experiments il
the manufacture of thunder with entire
safety, and he could not see how i
was that Uncle Solomon had eyer burs
in the drum head.
"I'll-I'll foller him; see if DON'T u
thought Billy; land fit Uncle Solo
mon is a-goin' to bust in the drum
II-I-Ill have a patch ready foI
him."
He knew where Aunt Mary KEEP
the mucilage- bottle, and thought ht
would borrow that, and have it or
hand, as well as stiff piece of papel
for drum patch.
The day came when Uncle Solomon
was to walk in the procession, ant
pound away on the big drum. 1t wa
q magnificent "Fourth" in nature
The birds all had the spirit Of n
aboard. and, on one of the brightest
sunniest Of mornings, made all the
|sweet noise they could. 1t was moth
ling, though, in volume, by the side O
the clang OF the bells, the bang of tn
Iguns, and the crack of countless tor.
lpedoes.
"rll-I'll-I1l-Ahemr' said Uncl
lSolomon, clearing a sudden cold out O
his throat. "l'll jest step across-th
Iway."
| This was said after breakfast. II
had already stepped ''across the way
to the back door OF Pingreen's grog
hole; but this was before breakfa
;. at gives me q good appetite,
Unused Uncle Solomon at that time.
He now went because it was ate
breakfast.
! ut braces me up" said Uncle Solo
mon, "for-for the duties of the day.
4: ''Oh, dear" groaned Aunt Mary
land the small but keen eyes of Bill,
saw her sad face, and his small bu
keen ear heard her weary sigh. ~
Twill jest excite him, and he'll &c
Iagoin' and bust in that druml''
Having overheard this remark Bill,
was all the more fully determined +
follow the procession with his pape
patch and mucilage bottle, and be Oh
Ihand for that awful moment when tn
drum head would be driven ia b,
IUncle Solomon's Incorporate muscle
| The procession gathered in honor Q
1.-The day, and as usual started an hou
latter the appointed time; and Uncl
Solomon started with it, as membe
of a small, but select and proud, musi
: Ical corps. He was famous for hi
drumming, and he was resolved TO b
Imere famous than ever. A remarl
made by Pingreen had rather nettle,
!Uncle Solomon.
| Don't bust your drum in this time!'
+, Iadvised Pingreen before crowd o
thirty loafers.
Il Uncle Solomon looked as if he want
led TO "bust in" Pingreen; but smoth